I am pleased to bring you another week of God glorifying, scripture saturated, theologically astute Hip Hop! Jesus is saving men and women from every culture and tongue and it is absolutely beautiful to hear Christ glorified through these different cultural expressions. Where’s the song? It’s coming. (repent of your impatience, :]) The following intro is courtesy of youtube.

C.J.Mahaney says: On a stage in front of 2,800 attendees at the 2010 NEXT conference, I called out my friend Curtis Allen.

On Friday, this is what he sent me:

Verse 1:
Yeah I’m on a mission like a couple spies, and that guys is the reason why I catechize. The good news we almost forgot I recognize, Heidelberg rediscovering the gospel prize. It’s not scripture but the truth in it will mention he, introduction hide and seek the 16th century. Written in a time when your mind was the weaponry, this document is back into the populace shouts to Kevin D. Better than you think not as bad as you remember, purpose driven truth, from Frederick the elector. He would initiate, the 129 questions to illustrate truths like Christ propitiates. All in a document, whose purpose was to teach children, a guide for preachers, and confessions in a church building. And this is all fact The Heidelberg Cat has been around but now it’s seem like it is coming back.

Hook:
We believe in the cross, believe in his life,
We believe in his death, believe he’s the Christ.
We believe that he rose from grave yes it is him
And we read the Heidelberg Catechism

We believe in the after life and we believe nothing’s after Christ, so we stand our ground, cuz the truth’s been around from the word to Heidelberg.

Verse 2:
Year of the Heidelberg resulting in renewed passion, and we could see it in our lives lights camera action. Let’s take a gander and address a few questions from Heidelberg document then look at the answers. But before that make sure that, you know how it’s broken down, in a Q & A format, a few sections. Suggestions how to read this not to sound promotional, but Kevin put it in his book to make it a devotional. Each question each answer has a bit of commentary, so the application of it is not some involuntary. Mystery, the history screams through rings true but I’ll just leave that up to God, cuz that’s between you. to believe, but to believe you gotta read you and then you meditate on all the truths that the Heidelberg will illustrate. What’s that the catechism homey where you been the good news we almost forgot let’s get it in!

Verse 3:
From the word to the Heidelberg, we see that what’s the comfort of life should come first. And in death that I with, body and soul but belong to the savior, commentary from me man, tell this to your neighbor. Moving on, how many things are necessary for thee, enjoying this comfort, to live and die happily? Three, my sin’s misery, deliverance from sin, and gratitude for God is how the answer ends. Let’s stretch it out the Lord’s day 23 the grandaddy of them all, questions 59 and 60. What good does it do to believe in all this? In Christ I am right heir to the promise. Paraphrase, anyways I’m kinda limited I’m just trying to say a couple things my man Kevin did. On the Heidelberg, go and get you one, and by the way CJ homey this was fun.

Verse 1
Dear LORD, hear my repentance supplication
I’ve behaved like a condemned and lustful pagan
I deceived your Word-I admit I did it again
Please return-I’m sick of living in with sin
My breath, it groans, as my flesh erodes
Transgressions are startin’ to stretch my clothes
The infection grows, this sickness is visible
This Christian’s despicable, my addiction is pitiful
Lust is a poison, it plagues the soul
Makes it cold, breaks and reshapes its mold,
Then it fades + rusts, I didn’t live the Commandments
I obeyed my lusts-and took forgiveness for granted
This sin is implanted: this kid was conceived in it
I’m Mr. Deviant and disobedient,
My flesh literally loves filthiness
“O God, deliver me from blood guiltiness”

Hook:
I cheat on You daily, but You take me back
To celebrate Your Love, we made this track
I defiled Your sanctuary, abused Your Grace
This vessel’s useless, LORD renew this place

Verse 2
This sheep has gone astray on an evil rotten way
The grief has brought dismay, I need to stop and pray!
My sweetness is sour, I’m weak in my power
I’m doubting Thomas combined with Peter the coward
If saints were tried, to see if we’re sanctified
I’d of disgracefully walked the plank and died
And if Your standard was the Sears Tower-
I fell short of Your Glory by the 40th story
Your Law convicts me
but You have awesome pity
I’m forgiven, even when my paws are sticky
Everyone’s sauced and tipsy, it’s awful risky
Living in this modern Sodom– it’s Gotham City
I don’t deserve to be blessed, I squirm to wrestle
this earthly vessel, Determined to murder my flesh
I’ve forsaken You, I lie and say it’s true
But You’re faithful to forgive so this praise is due!

Hook:
“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity”
I’m adoring Thee for forgiving me
“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity”
I’m adoring Thee for forgiving me!

Verse 3
I’ve been subtle and hush that I struggle with lust
It makes me smuggle disgust, when I huddle and fuss
I’m just a puddle of slush-my bubble will bust
I should be smothered and crushed to rubble and dust
But Your Love is a must, there’s no other to trust
Jesus you cuddle with us when we’re covered in puss
I disobeyed, but You patiently amazingly
Took my punishment and felt the pain for me!!!
You suffered for my own misbehaving
I so wish to praise Him for PROPITIATION
I should be fried and burned for my lies and slurs
But Jesus took the wrath that I deserve
I praise You gleefully for your leniency
And for inconceivably REDEEMING me
My verse will tell of how I cursed and fell
You give me Grace, but all I deserve is Hell.

This song “Killa” is amazing. Not only is the production and sound tickling to the ears, but the message is extremely sobering. Lecrae raps about sin. Choosing sin over choosing wisdom. He raps about proverbs 5 as well as other texts. The female singing in the hook represents sin and she is all so seductive and alluring. I can definitely relate to battling her alluring whispers in my ear. But no matter how seductive she is, I must remember that she’s a killa!

For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it. Proverbs 5:3-6

(Killa 7x)
Uh, I know it’s going to kill me but I just can’t let it go
And the taste so appealing it’s got a grip upon my soul
These honey dip lies mesmerize me
Pride’s got its crooked fingers twisted all inside in me
Fools walk the path I’m on, never to be seen again
Sipping on seduction while we eating on some secret sin
(No one will ever know) says the whisper in my ear
And I know I should be over this, but I ain’t seeing clear
And I ain’t leaving here, unless somebody save me
Walking to my grave letting evilness enslave me
Evil looks so lovely covered in her lace of lies
And the silky smooth seduction just manipulates my mind
Her fabrical fabrication is fueling my fascination
While I’m intoxicated she starts her assassination
I’m losing all my honor and my years to the merciless
Giving all my life away but I’m just so immersed in this (Killa)

Hook:
Baby this is innocent (Killa) it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa)
I’m only here for your benefit (Killa) I’m your every wish (Killa)
Come on and let me in (Killa), baby this is innocent (Killa)
And it won’t even hurt a little bit (Killa) Close your eyes and let’s get lost tonight
(Killa) It’ll be alright? You’ll see I’m (?) (Killa)

Her feet go down to DEATH, so don’t let her consume you
Even though her heart is black, her exterior’s beautiful
She’ll take your life away, strip away your joy
Pretends that she gon build you up but she’s just gon destroy you
My friends fell low, when they was so high
Got me running scared of myself, no lie
And I know I’m gon die, I tried cold turkey
But when I’m feeling worthy, Satan’s sure trying to merk me
I’m doing myself dirty, flirting with what’s perverted
I should follow the word but I guess I’d rather be murdered
(Eh-hreehmm) —Excuse me I mean martyred ‘cause I’m killing myself
My sin conceived a baby, and we gon name it death, breath
(Gasps) —Taken, she take my breath away
Replaces it with poison and I’m so swept away
I need some bread today hope I wake up
Before they start my wake up somebody make me break up
I’m dating a (Killa)

ENJOY!

Spoken:
Yeah, this is the testimony of our conscience (This is my heart)
That in holiness and Godly sincerity
Not in flesh and wisdom have we been above reproach
Especially, towards you, 2nd Corinthians baby.

Verse 1
This is my heart upon the letter, I had a burden since the last time we were together
The God of comfort will comfort me and comfort others, a suffering shouldn’t keep us from loving on our brothers
We had a sentence of death within ourselves, but God gave comfort and grace and gave an escape
A physical affliction is that of Christ’s glory
It’s for us to relate and share in faith
Have not my conduct with you, been above reproach
And those who question my heart, they’re pretty much a joke (that they are)
Reaffirm your love through unconditional acts
Be forgiven and restore the sinning man back
To those in Christ we are the aroma of life
But, the aroma of death to the perishing type (ok)
Do we need you to commend our works? (no we don’t)
Have we not been there to heal your hurt? (yes we have)
Our recommendations is that your souls be redeemed
You’re being transformed into the image of the King
They want you vial, condemned in the dark
But you received the spirit and it’s written on your heart

Spoken:
But thanks to God man (this is my heart upon the letter)
Who always leads us in triumphs in Christ
Manifest through us the sweet aroma of knowledge in him
For we are not like many, we do not pet on the word of God
But from sincerity
But as from God we speak in Christ and the sight of God
Yeah we will reaffirm our love towards you (this is my heart upon the letter)
Yo (this is the heart of a minister)

Verse 2:
Renounce the hidden things because of the shame
It’s sad cuz I wanna do this because of the fame
And they say that are message is veil
That’s because they’ve been blinded with the passions of hell (that’s sad man)
We hold his treasure in Earth in well (by his grace)
So we can be crushed and not despair (still by his grace)
We relate in the body with his death so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our flesh
The pain on Earth, yes it brings out an urgency (yes it does)
Not to be compared with our glory for eternity (never will it be)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not boasting in I,
I’d rather die, than be in the presence of Adonai
But we are now, as Ambassadors on the earth
For on this world, our embassy is the Church
Don’t take in vain, the grace of him who received us
And do not be bound together with unbelievers
(come on baby)
Give them no reason to discredit your worth
For what fellowship does the world have with the Church? (not at all)
Hold no grudge, we can not spare to rot in it
If this song leads to repentance then glory to God
Yeah man

Spoken:
The momentary light of affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison
(this is my heart upon the letter)
For I say I’d rather to be absent from the body then to be at home with the Lord (this is my heart upon the letter)
For we must all appear at judgment seat of Christ
So that each one may be recommenced for his deeds in the body according to what he’s done on the Earth (this is my heart upon the letter)
Whether good or bad, show ourselves to prove
(this is the heart of a minister)
Let’s go

Verse 3:
I have comfort hearing a view in your repentant
But let not these teachers hinder you when u given
Churches are eager to help in ways that are for natural
My prayer is that you would eagerly follow their example
I boasted of your readiness for a year
Give him your heart and not the pressure of your peers
They say I’m bold in letter, meek in face
If I begin to boast, I boast in grace
If they can boast, then I can boast in position
If they can boast, then I can boast in tradition
I can boast on my physical condition
Stoned and beaten but to God’s glory my affliction
I can also begin to boast in division the glory of paradise, which I saw with precision (this is my heart)
But if I saw the vision then God made a decision to put a thorn in my side but his grace is sufficient
So if I’m unimpressive it’s for the glory of the Lord
Me being humble is the whole purpose of the thorn
And if you want evidence of my power in the Son
Next time I come, I will not spare anyone
Test yourselves, to see if you are of the faith
Cuz a runner knows he’s runnin’ if that run is in the race
Finally brothers be complete and like-minded
The love and peace of God will keep us united

Spoken:
For he said my grace is sufficient for you (this is my heart upon the letter)
For power is perfected in weakness
And I’d rather boast about my weakness (this is my heart upon the letter)
And let the power of Christ may dwell in me
I mean whether in weakness, insult or stress whatever, persecution it doesn’t matter (this is my heart upon the letter)
For when I am weak he is strong
And I become foolish for yourselves compel me, actually, I should have been commended by you
(this is the heart of a minister)

Yeah I feel the need to commend myself
I just boast in the grace of God
For it is sufficient (Minister, Minister, Minister..)
That’s all I got to say
This is my heart upon the letter

Some words in the Bible can be somewhat ambiguous. Usually it has more to do with the modern context of the word than the author’s use. Either way, we often end up with a problem reading the Bible today. What does this word mean in it’s context?

Sometimes the problem can be huge, and can send your theology in a completely wrong direction. As a matter of fact, some cults are built entirely on a few words being misunderstood to mean something they don’t.

Today we’ll concentrate on a word that makes a big difference. If it’s understood one way, God is completely reactionary to what human beings do; and the other way, makes God the proactive initiator of salvation based on nothing in man.

That word is “foreknow”.

Foreseen Faith

There is a theological system that hangs on a doctrine of foreseen faith. That is that before creation, God looked into the future and saw who would believe in Jesus. The ones whom He saw would believe are the ones He chose to save. This, according to the subscribers of the doctrine (we’ll call the doctrine “simple foreknowledge”), is what the Bible means when it talks about “the elect”. So election is not based on God’s sovereign unconditional choice, but election is a conditional reaction to God’s foreknowledge of future events.

I’m convinced this doctrine would not exist if it weren’t for two texts:

“To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:” -1 Peter 1:1-2

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” -Romans 8:29

In both of these texts the proponents of simple foreknowledge believe that “foreknowledge” and “foreknow” are actually shorthand for “foresee who would believe in Jesus”.

Defining Our Terms

Let’s look at the word foreknow. What does the word mean? Can it have multiple meaning? Is there a more obvious meaning in the contexts? Let’s do a little work (Though this study would be better done in the original Greek, I think the translated word is straightforward enough for those who don’t know Greek, like myself, to grasp the issues.)

Simply defined ‘fore’ means previous, and ‘know’ means have knowledge of. So the simplest definition we can conjur is ‘previously have knowledge of’. Good start.

Biblical data also shows us that ‘know’ can also have a few other connotations.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” -Jeremiah 1:5

Here the parallelism demonstrates “before I formed you in the womb” is to “before you were born” as “I knew you” is to “I consecrated you”. So we see that know can mean set aside, or consecrated.

“It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought…” -Hosea 13:5

Here the Bible uses ‘knew’ to speak of God’s providential care for Israel in the wilderness. Know can mean ‘care for’.

“I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” -Matthew 7:23

In this text Jesus certainly isn’t talking about bare knowledge, but some kind of intimate relational knowledge. It’s not that He didn’t know of the false professors that cast out demons in His name, it’s that he wasn’t their Savior by relationship. So know can also mean ‘intimate relationship’

The Bible uses this word often to portray sexual intercourse as well. “Adam knew Eve”(Genesis 4:1), “Cain knew his wife” (Genesis 4:17), “Elkanah knew Hannah his wife” (1 Samuel 1:19).

I’m comfortable collapsing all of these alternate definitions into a general concept of intimate, relational, love.

So here are the definitions we have to work with for foreknow:
1. have previous knowledge (simplest definition)
2. previously have intimate love for (more complex, but very Biblical)
3. previously see faith exercised in (not a definition of the word, but believed to be shorthand)

Working With Our Definitions

Since 1 Peter 1:1-2 simply states that election is based on foreknowledge, we’ll concentrate on Romans 8:29, since the text gives us an order, and a result. Whatever conclusion we arrive at will also apply to 1 Peter.

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” -Romans 8:29

Let’s replace the word foreknew with out definitions, and see how each one fares.

1. For those whom he [had previous knowledge of] he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

Ok, so we have an omniscient God who can see all things, and all people. Good. The obvious problem is that that God had previous knowledge of everyone, and since there is no delineator to narrow it down, we’d be saying that all people are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Unless we’re Universalists, this will not do. Next!

2. For those whom he [previously had intimate love for] he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

Now we see a cohesive, if not offensive, thought. It would appear, as in Matthew 7:23 that God has an intimate love for a specific group of people, that he doesn’t share with all people (depart from me I never knew you). If this is the correct understanding it would gel very well with God’s election of Israel over against all other nations, and the New Testament talk of the Church being God’s “elect”. Look what Paul says about the same predestination in Ephesians:

“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…” -Ephesians 1:5

3. For those whom he [previously saw would believe in Jesus] he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

Again, unlike the first definition, we have a mostly cohesive thought. The first problem is just the simple flow of the sentence. We’re coupling a completely passive verb (observing) with an active verb (predestining) and linking them with “also”. This is not the way cause and effect is communicated. We don’t say “those whom he observed, he also did something with”, we’d say “those whom he observed, he in turn did something with.”

Secondly we’re trying to force the idea of foreseen events (personal excercise of faith) into a context of foreknown people. It doesn’t say God would know what they would do (true as that may be), it says He knew them.

The much bigger problem is that the word “foreknow” simply can’t be defined by such a loaded definition. It would have to be proven with more Biblical data, that the author was implying something so in-depth as a foreseen decision, and uses a single word for brevity. But again, there is no other Biblical data to build this doctrine. The expanded definition is built, circularly, on the very texts that require the expanded definition to give the desired result. Until it can be proven that ‘foreknow’ should actually be understood as ‘foreknow who would have faith’, it makes no sense to understand it that way. The only reason anyone would do so is because of a tradition passed down to them by a theology needing the word to have such a definition.

Definition 2 is the only one that can be used meaningfully. Now let’s try this definition in the other text, 1 Peter 1:1-2.

“To those who are elect… according to the [previous love] of God the Father…”

Perfect. We see God actively electing a people based on the love He had before the foundation of the world. Sounds very similar to:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— …” -Ephesians 2:4-5

The Killer Text

I’ve demonstrated that only one definition of the word ‘foreknow’ can confidently be used in this context. Now you may ask if the actual word ‘foreknew’ is used in any other place in the new testament in a way that can support the definition I’ve concluded.

Paul, only 3 chapters later in Romans uses this exact same word in a way that makes it abundantly clear that this is the proper way to understand this word in context.

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.” -Romans 11:1-2

Paul is not talking about foreseen faith. As a matter of fact he’s talking about national Israel who largely DO NOT believe. Paul is explaining that God has not turned His back on His fore-loved people.

Now, it should be noted that while this demonstrates the meaning of the word, it’s not being used in the same context. One group He’s fore-loved and elected as His chosen people under the old covenant (and has not abandoned them now). The other group He’s fore-loved and elected for salvation in Christ. Those “who are loved by God and called to be saints…” -Romans 1:7.

Romans 11:1-2 demonstrates that Paul does not use ‘foreknew’ as shorthand for ‘foreseen faith’, but that he is speaking of unconditional electing love. He is referring to a special kind of love that God does not have for all people. He is referring to a purposed choice God made before the creation of the world to love a people because of “nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls-” -Romans 9:11

Now with this amazing fore-love in mind, let’s see what God does with these people.

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” -Romans 8:29-30

God chose a people based solely on His good pleasure and love, then he guaranteed those people would never see the flames of Hell. All of salvation is the active work of the Lord, alone. Even His foreknowledge.

When I hear the word “truth”, I think of when Jesus was talking to Pontius Pilate in John 18.

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” John 18:37-38

What is truth? Men and women have been asking this question for generations. It is not a new concept that Generation X sparked. If you, as a Christian, have ever gotten into a discussion or debate about truth then this song will sound very familiar to you. Lecrae goes through some of the most popular arguments held by moral relativists and the like. This song actually reminds me of a very interesting “discussion” me and my friend Lubee had with three atheists/former seeker sensitive youth group kids outside of a Starbucks one Sunday. I believe I heard every one of these arguments from them.

[Spoken:]
Bring it drums (Yah)
This song right here
Is for everybody out there looking for truth
Who says, you know
We all in the same boat
Yeah, Christians and Muslims, everybody like that, huh
Yow, you lookin’ for truth
Oh, I’ve got some answers man
So good to be
Ah, let’s get into it

Verse 1:
Let’s go
Night and Day I ain’t scared to say that we different
They play the prostitute but they like to say they just intimate
And Idols in their heart, they can’t seem to lose their grip on it
See them walkin’ in the direction that King Agrippa went
Our World is different like Whitley and Wayne man
They say we look the same but we ain’t chasin’ the same thing
It all boils down to they think everythings relative
Jesus might as well be a South American president
Very evident, they say that Jesus was heaven sent
They lifestyle reflects they worship themselves instead of Him
They don’t acknowledge the Christ if they did they wouldn’t worship themselves by the way that they live
All these rappers say they got guns that spray off 16
I’ve got a Luke 9 that can take all 16
That’s the Bible the one they quote
But they don’t care about the author they think he’s a joke.

[Spoken:]
“Man, It’s just some folks say, “All truth is relative, it just depends on what you believe.” You know, “hey man, ain’t no way to know for sure who God is or what’s really true.” But that means you believe your own statement; that there’s no way to know what’s really true. You’re saying that that statement is true. You’re killing yourself. If what’s true for you is true for you and what’s true for me is true for me, what if my truth says your’s is a lie? Is it still true? Come on man! ”

I promise everybody is asking the same questions
“Who am I? What is my purpose and my direction? ”
Y’probably believe that you exist for no other reason
Than Self-satisfaction, hedonism and pleasing things
Life’s about you getting’ yours and bein’ happy
Even if it means a divorce and switchin’ families?
Your job, your house, your car, your spouse
It’s all for the glory of you, Elsh-u-ou
You go to school get y’ degrees and get a job
So you can make a whole lotta’ cheese cause’ lifes hard
You never thought of livin to please a real God
And that’s the reason he made you
See, he gave you breathe to breathe the chest to breathe it.
So you can taste and see He’s the best, believe it
He made us for His glory and not for your own homey
Our God is Holy. You should repent and die slowly

[Spoken:]
“See, there’s this thing called “Secular Humanism”, it says man is the source of all meaning and all purposing. You know what I’m saying? We’re just the result of a big cosmic explosion. We don’t really have a purpose or meaning, so we just come up with our own purpose. We’re the source of our meaning and our purpose. How can a man, which is the product of chance, a finite being be the source of purpose and meaning? You can’t! You’re created with purpose man! Get with The Creator yo! ”

Man, everybody got a problem with God
And when you mention the Christ
Then they really get to turning the nod
But some say they roll with Christ
But some rappers made it seem like He was cool
With all the sin in their life
NO!
But then some say “How can God exist when
All this evil stuff in the world keep persistin’?
Wrong question. Ask again.
“How come God ain’t’ let you feel the wrath from sin? ”
What you thought last night deserved a first class flight
To Hell where God doesn’t dwell. You got that right
But He bought back life, on a cross that night
Christ died, you ain’t know that he crossed that price?
All of God’s anger poured on His Son
Then together, through all of eternity. Now He was shunned.
Praise God for the life that was won for us
Ain’t got a beef with God because the Son was crushed

[Spoken:]
You look man, “Some people say that God ain’t real ’cause they don’t see how a good God can exist with all this evil in the world. If God is real then He should stop all this evil, ’cause He’s all-powerful right? What is evil though man? It’s anything that’s against God. It’s anything morally bad or wrong. It’s murder, rape, stealing, lying, cheating. But if we want God to stop evil, do we want Him to stop it all or just a little bit of it? If He stops us from doing evil things, what about lying, or what about our evil thoughts? I mean, where do you stop, the murder level, the lying level, or the thinking level? If we want Him to stop evil, we gotta be consistent, we can’t just pick and choose. That means you and I would be eliminated right? Because we think evil stuff. If that’s true, we should be eliminated! But thanks be to God that Jesus stepped in to save us from our sin! Christ died for all evilness! Repent, turn to Jesus man! ”

This week I decided to feature one my favorite songs from Flame. Flame has a special ability, I believe, to be extremely deep and theological while at the same time having the “sound” of a mainstream Hip Hop artist. Take this song for instance. In “Rewind” Flame tells us of a time where he was watching TV and decided to settle on a TV preacher. Well as you may be able to guess, this got really interesting as he listened to what was being said from this gentleman…

Verse 1:
Well I was chillin’ in the crib afterward reading my word/ so I cut the T.V. on and I started to surf/ at first I past a channel with a preacher man/ so I said let me go back just to see what he sayin’/ reach to the left grabbed my Bible from the desk top/ he started off well I’m like yeah that’s hot/ dude was killin’ it/ I started feelin’ it/ even though I didn’t know what scripture he was dealin’ with/ so I said let me stay and see/ then he said turn to Isaiah 53/ I’m like aww yeah man that text is raw/ the very next thing he said made me drop my jaw/ I was appalled/ they offered him applause/ and 20,000 people screamin’ praise the Lord/ dawg I’m like naw/ I’m laughin’ it off but it was serious he was speakin’ on behalf of God

Hook:
It’s time/ press stop and rewind/ go back roll back right now/ with creeds and church history/ lets stop and see if we missed a beat

Verse 2:
He was reading verse 5 by His stripes we are healed/ then he said cause of that we should never get ill/ and if you do get sick its from a lack of faith/ this false teaching is really exasperating/ then he said either that or some secret sin/ so if your sickness comes back you need to seek Him again/ confess your hidden sin/ and beseech Him again/ and if you doubt your sickness will come creepin’ again/ so all that text was sayin’ is that we shouldn’t get sick man/ is that in the bible/ that same preacher man said we suppose to be rich man/ is that in the bible/ he said with my faith I can confess and posses it/ is that in the bible/ then he said God’s people shouldn’t suffer/ is that in the bible/ NO

Hook

Verse 3:
So I cut the T.V. off tear drop fallen to the floor/ I was sad seeing these people fallen for it/ I broke down then I started callin’ to the Lord/ we can’t afford to ignore this anymore/ furthermore if he would have just read verse 4/ he would have understood the context a little more/ for that matter/ should have read the whole chapter/ to see the whole point that Isaiah was after/ the whole chapter was about Jesus Christ/ and specific details about Jesus’ life/ and healing in verse 5 was from our sin sickness/ you know when the Holy Ghost quickens/ I know what your feelin’/ I know you offended/ but when you repented the Spirit brought spiritual healing/ but at the glorification/ in the book of Revelation/ chapter 21:4 read the no mores

Some scripture’s to help set the context.

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” – 1 Cor. 4:5

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Heb. 4:13

Judges 14-16

Verse 1:
What goes on in the darkness, in the spot-light your an artist/ in day light at the job workin’ your hardest/ when the lights on spread seed for the harvest/ but when the lights off spill seed on the carpet// righteousness like a light switch/ flip it on and off when you wish, livin’ life as a hypocrite/ a great actor a fake wit a mask/ your ashamed of the fact your a slave to you master// it was subtle how you lust crept in/ started in your head, spreadin’ through your bread like leaven/ age eleven exposure/ spark somethin’ dark in your heart burned ’til you got older// you were born again, it was smolderin’/ zealous young buck, throwin’ out stuff, you were bolder then/ the church criticized, said “you’re too holy” then/ you began to compromise, heads started noticin’// things changed but, heart didn’t change much/ fan to the flame, lust ran through your brain much/ you messed up on occasion/ makin’ sure, it’s at least a week before, you were on stage again/ you leave time for repentance/ sometimes you might even mean it ’cause your sins ain’t consistent/ but, you can’t lie it’s the Most High you rebel against/ sinnin’ wisely, hidin’ all your evidence

Hook: You can’t hide in the darkness/ God sees all actions and intents of the heart it’s/ gonna come to the light/ so repent, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might//x2

Verse 2:
I know another cat like you, you might know him too/ matter of fact yo, his stories in the bible/ ever read about Samson/ Nazarite since birth, crushed anything he laid hands on// He had an issue with sin too/ it crept in slowly, most didn’t notice what he went through/ they get the story all twisted/ compromise started way before Delilah, most of y’all missed it// it begins in the vineyard/ rule number one for the Nazarite: no wine or vinegar/ even the grapes are off limits/ eatin’ anything from the vine was a breach in the commitment// he never should’ve got close but/ now he’s put to the test when a young lion approaches/ the Spirit of the Lord fell on him like an adrenaline rush/ literally rippin’ the lion up// later on he returned to the scene/ rule number three, all dead bodies are unclean/ can’t touch ‘em, I don’t care how much you loved them/ if it’s carcass you must regard it disgusting// but it’s not so with Samson/ he found bees and honey in the dead lion and stuck his hands in/ then he shared with his parents/ sin seems sweet when it’s secret so please be aware men

Hook

Verse 3:
You got a lot in common with Samson/ hope it ends there though, his story has a bad end/ though God did much with him, he was still lust driven/ had a thing for revenge plus women// After about a thousand and thirty dead Philistines/ he finds the woman of his dreams/ but she was schemin’/ bribed by her Philistine people, offerin’ a whole lot of cream and// before I get to the point it should’ve hit you when I was going through the rules earlier I skipped [#] two/ here it is though, never bring a razor to your head bro/ Nazarites gotta let their hair grow// she enticed him, he told her/ she sent for the lords of the Philistines so they came over/ while he slept she shaved him/ no longer Nazarite, Lord’s gone, no one to save him// they put his eyes out blindin’ him/ fetters of brass binding him, and now he’s grindin’ in prison/ the pagans want to play wit’ ‘em/ so they sent him to the house of Dagon, but Samson is prayin’// the Lord avenges him, pushes out the pillars in the buildin’/ three thousand dead men and women/ but he went with them, like I said it’s a bad endin’/ so how you gonna finish yours, Christian

Hook

I thought it fitting today to choose Shai Linne’s “Atonement Q&A” for this week’s focus. If you have never heard this song, your in for a musically and theologically delicious treat. The song is simple, a theological word is shouted out and Shai explains the word in hip hop form. One of the most edifying tracks I have ever heard. Now, I say it is fitting because of very recent events. There is a dialogue you can read between Shai Linne and a fellow brother and blogger discussing a concern in this song. Shai Linne just posted the interaction last night on his personal blog. You can read this dialogue here.

Verse 1
Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes
How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol
What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin
And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again
What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law
Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws
What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies
And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy
What the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ
Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type
I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen
And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!

Chorus
Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith
Behold the beauty of surprising grace
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied
Just fall back- there’s an atonement now
The cross of Christ is holy ground
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Verse 2
Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love
To the elect, who receive new birth from above
Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness
The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness
Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin
And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend
Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died
His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied
Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father
I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba
Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity
God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies
Justification- God declares us righteous
Sanctification- we’re being made into His likeness
Glorification- that’s what happens at the finish
When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!

Chorus

Verse 3
God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent
Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits
What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this
We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus
Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin
And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within
What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor
Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior
Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan
But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation
Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount
Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account
Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice
But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ
And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the
only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!

Chorus

Balance and Mystery

There is much talk in today’s Church about being balanced. While this is a healthy idea, there are many ways to understand balance. Do we mean balance in terms of giving room to both sides of Biblical teachings, or are we recommending some idea of doctrinal agnosticism?

It’s nearly impossible to get into any kind of meaningful conversation about doctrine today without hearing something like, “People have been arguing about these things for centuries. Who are we to think we’ve figured it out.”. Is God mysterious?

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” -Deuteronomy 29:29

While appealing to mystery is necessary when we talk about God and His ways (The secret things belong to God.), we have to be careful not to pull the mystery card prematurely. We have to look at all that the Bible tells us about a topic, so we’re sure we understand what’s being said (The things that are reveled belong to us). Then, where the Bible stops, we stop and worship the God who is beyond our comprehension.

Human Responsibility and God’s Sovereignty – the Seeming Paradox

The issue at hand is the idea that while God is sovereign, meaning that he orchestrates all events in time for His purposes, man is also held accountable for what he does or doesn’t do. This should strike us as paradoxical.

If God is making everything happen, how are we still doing anything? Or conversely, if our choices are real, and subject to God’s judgement, how can God be orchestrating those choices and events? The Bible seems to simply present both of these ideas, says they’re true, but doesn’t tell us how exactly they work together. So we’re left with an appeal to the mysterious power of God.

Human Responsibility and God’s Sovereignty in Salvation – The Misunderstanding

This correct doctrinal paradox of responsibility and sovereignty seems to have flowed over into categories today, that it was never intended for. And it appears, for the sake of political correctness, mystery is being appealed to in areas that the Bible is not mysterious.

Today’s ‘autonomous free will’ oriented Church has taken historic orthodox language and misused it to help it’s own faulty theology. A misrepresentation of the conversation is the result.

Today we find preachers teaching that since the Bible teaches that we have to come to Christ to be saved, this means that man has a free will, but the Bible also teaches that God is in control… and this is mysterious. They’ll produce verses that indicate a universal gospel call, commanding all men to come, using them as proof texts to demonstrate free will.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve…” -Joshua 24:15

“…And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” -Revelation 22:17

So, there is undoubtedly a free offer to all men to come to Christ. And they go on to demonstrate that God is also in control of these things:

“…having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” -Ephesians 1:11

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” -Romans 8:29

Some will rest here, simply saying “Man has free will, and God is sovereign… we just have to deal with it.”(which is admirable, especially when we consider the more common alternative).

Usually at this point the ‘free will’ preacher will redefine predestination and election, and teach that God simply foreknew who would believe, and elected them based on their choice. Sadly, they don’t realize that they’ve actually left their original argument at this point, they’ve rejected mystery, removed God’s choice and set up man’s choice as the sole deciding factor. No more paradox… just an unbiblical doctrine of foreknown decisional salvation.

Human Responsibility and God’s Sovereignty in Salvation – All the Biblical Data

We’ve already established the parts that modern free will Christianity has right:

1. Christ has made a free offer to all men to be saved, and man must come to be saved.

2. God is in control (to varying degrees, depending on tradition), and he is working all things to the council of his will.

But we can’t simply rest here and attribute to point 1 the idea that man is free to choose, until we’ve weighed all the data. Is man free to accept or reject this offer? Jesus says no.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” -John 6:44

“…no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” -Matthew 11:27

Paul supports this idea of man’s inability to obey God and come to Christ:

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” -Romans 8:7-8

“…no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” -1 Corinthians 12:3

The Bible’s ACTUAL teaching is that yes, a free offer is made, but no one CAN come unless they’re first chosen, enabled, drawn, and enlightened to truth of the gospel. An inward change, by God, is necessary. And until that change occurs man is unable to come.

Is man responsible for the choice he makes concerning Jesus? Yes.

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” -John 3:18

Is man able to actually choose Christ, apart from the electing, regenerating grace of God? No.

“This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” -John 6:65

“…but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.” -John 10:26

Conclusion

We need to clarify terms that seem to have been cross. Human responsibility to believe (clearly taught in scripture) is not the same as human ABILITY to believe (strictly taught negatively in scripture). So as far as free will… we have none. We make choices, but our will is bound to our sinful nature.

The question of how God and man work together in salvation is not a paradox. ALL of salvation is God’s doing, as man is incapable of contributing. Every part of our responsibility being fulfilled is a gift from God to His people. Man and God DO NOT work together in salvation. Man is a passive recipient of God’s free gift, then man exercises the faith he’s been gifted.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

The paradoxical discussion of mans’ responsibility and God’s sovereignty was never about ‘free-will’. it’s about how we can keep from being puppets, when God is the orchestrator of everything. How are we accountable, when God makes everything happen? When we correctly understand the argument we ask the obvious (Biblical) question:

“You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” -Romans 9:19

The question is profound… but the answer is heavy and glorious, and should press the unbiblical concept of free will in salvation out of us, as we’re humbled like the creatures we are.

“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?” -Romans 9:20-21

Here, my friends, is where we rest. In God’s right to do what He wants with what’s His. Mysterious as it all may be.